Urban News

The Deccan Chronicle  02.12.2010

Dec. 1: The rift between the corporation council and administration has widened with the recruitment process by the corporation hanging in the balance. With the government remaining mum over the issue and yet to pass an order permitting the civic body to a go ahead with the recruitment of about 5,800 sanitary workers to clear garbage, the councillors say the solid waste management will go from bad to worse if the Neel Metal Fenalca contract is extended.

The corporation is in damage control mode and is trying to protect NMF, which has been accused of not performing the job properly, by deploying men and machi-nes to make the garbage situation appear better, Ripon Building sources said. Complaints about uncollected garbage are routine these days and the issue has to be addressed immediately, Opposition floor leader Saidai P. Ravi said.

Poor solid waste management is a nuisance and poses a public health threat, say ward members who add that they are unable to move around their localities because of piled up garbage. The rain has made matters worse, they say.

The Hindu  01.12.2010

Heated exchanges at council meeting

Special Correspondent

Sanction order has not yet been given, says official

Udhagamandalam: Controversy surrounding the approval of a building plan led to heated exchanges at a meeting of the Udhagamandalam Municipal Council held here on Tuesday.

Application

Shortly after the meeting commenced, J.Ravi Kumar, K.A.Mustaffa and R.Ilango of the DMK adverted to an application submitted for putting up a building at Butfire on the Ooty-Mysore road and lamented that though the Council had rejected it the town planning section had subsequently given the green signal.

Stating that it had been pointed out by the Council that the land on which the building was proposed to be put up was a swamp and an existing building had started sinking, Mr.Ravikumar took exception to the town planning officials unilaterally deciding to approve the plan.

When Mr.Rajendran explained that the Geo-tech Cell had given a no objection certificate, Mr.Ravikumar and few other members contended that it was tantamount to insulting the council. With a member losing control and using foul language, the Chairman adjourned the meeting.

When it resumed the Commissioner in-charge B.Ramoorthy said that the sanction order was yet to be given.

He added that it can be kept pending until the Town Planning Officer who was away, comes back on duty.

Mr.Ravikumar alleged that irregularities are taking place continuously in the town planning section.

Mr.Mustaffa regretted the main Kodappamund channel which cut through the town is in an appalling condition and several lakh rupees spent on cleaning it had gone down the drain.

Stating that the Public Works Department is not maintaining it properly, he hoped that it would be handed over to the municipality.

Mr.Rajendran said that a proposal to take over the channel and the Ooty lake is getting ready.

Mr.Mustaffa urged the officials concerned to put an end to the misuse of the Gandhi Maidhan here.

Sewage

Regretting that sewage is overflowing in many places, Mr.Ravikumar feared that it will mar the reputation of the vacation destination.

Expressing the hope that ways would be evolved in order to keep the market clean, he said that since it was poorly lit burglaries are taking place.

George (DMK) said that the Bharathiar Complex near the threshold of the town is in a state of neglect.